The ridge is covered by a mixed forest of
beech and
spruce and, in places, also beech and
oak. On the Cecilienhöhe near Bad Nenndorf, at the picnic area of
Lauenau-Feggendorf and southwest of the old forester's lodge at Köllnischfeld are several examples of the rare, native
dwarf beech (
Süntelbuche). Image:Deister_Kammweg.jpg|Spruce and beech wood along the Deister ridgeway Image:FeggendorfGrillplatz.jpg|Dwarf beeches at the Feggendorf picnic site Amongst the rarer plants on the Deister are species of
holly,
mezereon,
orchids,
sundews,
globeflowers,
hard shield fern, and great
snowdrops. The Deister is home to the typical animals found in the German
Central Uplands.
Red deer,
roe deer and
wild boar are very common. Other wild animals occurring here are the
pine marten and
beech marten,
stoat,
polecat,
dwarf weasel and
red fox. Birds of prey include the
buzzard,
goshawk and
red kite. Rarer small animals include the
mouse-eared bat and
lesser horseshoe bat. ==Hills==